Founding idea

The International Committee on Nuclear Technology ("Internationale Länderkommission Kerntechnik", ILK) of the three German Laender Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse was founded in early October 1999 and consists of 13 scientists from Germany, France, USA, Sweden and Switzerland. The underlying intention of the ILK is to make an important contribution to maintain and develop the internationally highly renowned safety standard of southern German nuclear power plants. Not only will the ILK critically review the phaseout plans held by the German government but it will also investigate the extent to which the intense competition in a liberalized electricity market - such as staff reductions - will affect safety.

Twelve of the eighteen power-generating German nuclear power plants are sited in the three participating German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse. The basis for the foundation of the ILK is given by an Administrative Agreement between the three German states which was signed on the 6th of July 1999 in Karlsruhe. The members of the Committee are nominated by the Ministers President of the participating German states for a period of three years with the option of one further re-nomination. Membership in the Committee represents an honorary position that is not subject to representation. The Committee regards itself as a neutral organization.

The Environmental Ministers of the three German states emphasized at a press conference, held on the occasion of the first meeting of the ILK on the 4th of October 1999, that the great significance of the ILK lies in its independent and objective consultation of the three German states in questions relating to the safety of nuclear facilities, the disposal of radioactive waste and also in the risk assessment of nuclear energy utilization. In particular, the Ministers pointed out the internationally acclaimed specialist knowledge of the Committee members (which had been an essential selection criterion for membership) as well as its independence from mandates prescribed by the German states.